Feliciana sentinel., 1887-03-19
W. G, r j. DEPARTMENT.
For God and home and ,aatire land
THE DRINK f. VII.

enter more or less. The reformei
and the patriot find their efforts op'
posed at every turn by this abnse
The saloon in politics establishes
and maintains corruption, venaiity
and low sordid views AID methods.
The saloon in society effects tAe Ia
Dor question most mischievousiJ in
all its phases. It multiplies the
sufferings of the poor, renders Tho
elevation OF whole classes almost
hopeless, paralyzes the churches,
neutralizes the schools. adds to the
weight Of taxation and lowers the
moral standard wherever its inAu-
ence extends.
There is no agency n existence
which operates as strongly ana in
so many directions. for the degrade
ton of everything it touches. It
brutalizes the cruder element Of So
ciety. It opens the minds Of many
| who are somewhat more advanced to
| the dangerous doctrines Of the soci,
! ali.D.
It warps the judgment and dead
ems the sensibilities even OF fully de-
veloped intelligeuces, and causes
them to view with Indifference all
| the harm done to the community by
the rum power.
The extent Of the public depriya-
ton wrought in this way is shown in
the difficulty which attends all the
efforts to reform the abuse. The
evil il, itself is 30 formidable, it's IF
tects are so diverse, it interferes a;
20 many points with social and IA,
ioual progress that the mere recap!t
nlation OF what it has 'one and i
still doing would create an !rresista-
| ble and spontaneous demand for its
abatement had not its corruptiug in
huence proceeded 50 far that many
are incapable of realizing i's true
nature aud consequences. 1t is not
to be assumed that the general su
piness regarding the drink evil glow :
| out OF a belief that its Larmfulness
is exaggerated. Every man
and woman in tho land knows we'll
that in this matter exageration is
scarcely possible. But custom and
familiarity, together with the infu-
ence Of the peculiar vicious view of
things which drink produces and
| propa9ates, have combined to form a
! barrier Of passive endurance which
is very hard to overcome. Add
to this the appeal which the saloon
makes to the lowest yet often the
strongest cravings of human nature,
and the force Of rs resistance to all
change for the better may be esti-
| mated. Yet it would be an error to
| conclude that the situation is desper-
! ate. The first step has been taken
| toward temperance reform, in tue
Appearance of q steadily growing
real cation Of exis ing facts. Before
any abuse can be removed there mus,
be a general recognition of its prev
alence and its evil significance. TAa;
recognition, in the case Of the drini
evil. is becoming wider every day.
There is however, no question :.
regard to which popular education
is more necessary. 1t is n so!f-eTi-
dent fact that iatomperance has beer
! diminished. SO far as il has declined
at all by raising a portion of thc
community to a place from which
the debasing effects of drink are
clearly perceived. There is a goot
deal Of obstinate prejudice to ovel
come. and not less silent or active
sympathy with the saloon, resting
on usage and physical habit. Bn
the disheartening legarthy Of the
past is no longer the main obstacle
to progress. That has been shaker
if not removed. Public opinion i:
crystalizing about heathen centres
The demand for high license anc
local option indicate the movement
of the current. In q short while
much remains to do. the tenn perance
outlook is by no means disconraS
ing.